As reported in the previous issue, Nagaland has not been able to set up a strong sustainable socio-economic foundation since the late 80s and for which, it has missed the opportunity and is the bottom rank in the region instead of being among the top three.
Many projects given to Nagaland during the 70s were due to the central government’s commitment to the economic uplift of the newly created state so that development acts as a panacea for all the social, political and economic issues.
However, a few decades later most of these projects instead of having the desired economic objective folded up, mainly due to mismanagement. These included– Paper Mill, Sugar Mill, plywood and veneer mill including canning factory, mechanical brick factory, cold storage unit etc.
Some of the instances of lost opportunities are mentioned for the purpose of reflection should serve as lesson about the missed opportunities.
SBI: State Bank of India (SBI) which is the Lead Bank in Nagaland, had shown phenomenal growth and this had resulted in the Local Regional Office (LRO) Shillong being shifted to Dimapur in 1987.
Later it was upgraded to Zonal Office in 1989 as announced by then union minister of state for finance Eduardo Falerio and placed under a Deputy General Manager (DGM). However in a strange and surprising twist, the Zonal Office at Dimapur was shifted to Jorhat. This unwarranted decision was undertaken at higher levels in Assam initiated by the powerful bank union in Assam.
The chief minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio, had on November 23, 2013 written to then union minister of Finance, P.C. Chidambaram expressing surprise and dismay at the shifting of the Zonal Office to Jorhat. In a letter addressed to P. Chidambaram, chief minister Rio said he failed to understand the logic of shifting the zonal office from Dimapur to Jorhat since Jorhat already had a SBI Zonal office.
Rio also pointed out that there was no logic in having two SBI zonal offices in Jorhat- Jorhat (North) and Jorhat (South) zonal offices. It is a fact that Jorhat is the only city in Assam to have two Zonal Offices.
In order to cement the downgrading of SBI Zonal Office, Dimapur, a new module was created, called Jorhat South on February 1, 2013. Nagaland was clubbed under SBI Zone Jorhat (South) with the districts of Jorhat, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong and Golaghat.
Rio in his letter also said placing SBI branches in Nagaland and Karbi Anglong under Jorhat would cause a lot of inconveniences as all administrative approvals from Nagaland, Karbi Anglong and Nagaon areas of Assam will demand travel to Jorhat.
In fact, the Zonal Office should be brought back to Dimapur and under which, SBI branches in the state, nearby Karbi Anglong and a few branches at Naga areas in Manipur, could be placed under DGM Dimapur.
ONGC: Nagaland has huge quantity of crude oil (estimated at over 600 million metric tonnes) and gas reserves besides coal and several other minerals and precious stones. Dimapur had the Office of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Ltd for oil and gas operations in Nagaland and nearby areas.
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation of India Ltd (ONGC) established its base office at Dimapur during the late 80s to administer oil operations in Nagaland where field operations were carried out. However, by 1990 the office shut down without any explanation leaving over 50 local contract employees in the lurch.
Needless to say, the excuse was the letter and threat of extortion by unknown miscreants served on the office’s local officer at Dimapur. On the other hand ONGC had been under attack by suspected militants in Assam who also set fire to oil pipes but which were absorbed with great sportsmanship spirit.
Agri University: During the mid-80s there was a proposal to establish a Central Agriculture University in Nagaland. There were talks that the proposed Agriculture University would be located at the then School of Agriculture Sciences and Rural Development (SASRD) at Medziphema/Punglwa over a 3000-acre land.
A strange incident took place during that period where some miscreants purportedly threatened some staff and that lit the spark of uproar. The proposed Agriculture University was then relocated and allotted to Manipur where it is presently functioning from.
Interestingly, in 2016 the College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry came up in Jalukie and today, the college is under the administrative control of CAU Imphal.
It was also disclosed that there were attempts to place the CVS&AH under Nagaland University but it never materialized.
Dimapur Railway station: Dimapur railway station was opened by the imperial Northeastern Frontier Railway (NFR) then under Eastern Bengal and Assam Province on October 16, 1903. Dimapur railway used to handle around ten thousand passengers daily to and from Dimapur.
This made it as the second highest revenue earner for the Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR). Due to connivance between some railway employees and officials of the district administration, many persons occupying railway lands were given pattas.
As per records NFR has is trying to reclaim 30.283 hectares out of 53.806 hectares under unauthorised occupation. Dimapur railway station currently sits over 5160 square meters but the redevelopment of the entire railway station requires a total of 17,484 square meters for large waiting areas with sophisticated passenger facilities, food plazas, green buildings, solar panels, and rainwater collection and double-track for stationary trains.
NFR has allowed the situation to worsen but the state government also has to share the blame. Trains such as Jan Shatabdi Express, Nagaland Express and Inter City Express which used to run between Guwahati-Dimapur have been shifted to Assam including the BG Express.
Dimapur Airport: Dimapur airport began operation in the mid-70s when civilian aircraft (F-27) was introduced. The government of India, notably the Civil Aviation Ministry has been requesting the government of Nagaland to provide additional land for developing Dimapur airport so as to make it at par with the best in the region.
Instead the state government has been diverting attention on another green airport where the projected expenditure outstrips even construction of the best facilities for operating Big Bodied Jets. Dimapur airport is handling huge volume of passengers and badly needs to expand but there is no land. The state government is belatedly fighting a court case to reclaim back lands that were encroached and allotted to individuals.
The state government needs to pay serious attention on flight connectivity to enable passengers’ efficient service. Otherwise, many are still flying to Guwahati to catch the next flight to south or west India. In other states, state governments like in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and even Mizoram are unrelenting in pressuring the civil aviation ministry to provide better services and connectivity.
The Civil Aviation ministry had earlier written several letters for 107 acres required under Phase-I for extension of the present runway by 310 meters. Again under Phase-III some 230 acres is required for side development such as extension of runway by 600 meters strip clearance for AB-320 type aircraft along with hangars, Runway End Safety Area (RESA) and isolation bay.
In other states, people willingly sell their lands to the government for development infrastructures. In Nagaland it is just the opposite because people want development but don’t want to give lands.
It is time for the state government to acquire available land at Chümoukedima to construct an airport of international standard instead of wasting time trying to construct an airport some 30 miles away from Dimapur or even more.
Nagaland deserves the best airport but the state government continues to see everything through the lens of politics. Any airport can be established anywhere but priority should be given to Dimapur airport since it caters to a few lakh passengers every year.
Medical College: Medical College was proposed in 1984 and subsequently, the dream began to take shape when work on referral hospital began in 1988 which was to become a medical college. However as the project ran into cost overruns and liabilities, it was grounded to a halt. The proposed medical college went instead to Meghalaya.
Referral hospital could have been made into a medical college but the state government had no plan and so it was handed over to a private party through a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding.
The state has two medical colleges- none in Kohima( which is functioning) and the other in Mon(which is still facing teething problems).Both colleges are under the Central Scheme where 200-bedded district hospitals can be made into medical colleges.
In this regard District Hospital Dimapur(DHD) merits being upgraded into a medical college but despite all the merits, in Nagaland it doesn’t count. District Hospital Dimapur (DHD) was best suited to have been upgraded to a medical college with addition of more beds.
Dimapur: Of late, the importance of Dimapur as the ‘ commercial capital ‘ or business gateway of Nagaland is being challenged due to hordes who have made extortion, syndication and collection of fees as their main source of livelihood.
That is the reason why many entrepreneurs of yesteryears have fled to other places while many are just holding on because they have nowhere to go. In fact, Chümoukedima and Lahorijan/Khatkhati are become the preferred destinations for starting new business enterprises. Even within Dimapur city, self-styled authorities are causing alarm and outrage over their arm twisting business mainly to collect huge extortionate money.
All the above point to silence and inaction by the enlightened leaders of society as a result of which adventurers are hijacking communities under the guise of justice to the people. Dimapur is indeed at its last throes. Therefore, unless right thinking and progressive people wake up and act, the once proud city will be reduced to a stagnated city like Kolkata.